Eagle Crest Family Newsletter

Dear Eagle Crest Families,

We’ve reached the midpoint of the school year, and I’m excited to share some fantastic achievements with you!

Our schoolwide reading challenge is still going strong, and we’re getting closer to our goal of 250,000 minutes of reading. Thank you for encouraging your children to read regularly. Please keep up the momentum over Winter Break, and check out the information below from Mrs. Beckett about how to log your child’s reading minutes.

On the academic front, I’m proud to share that our mid-year iReady assessments in reading and math show significant growth compared to this time last year. This progress reflects the incredible work of our students and teachers. Our professional development this year has focused heavily on literacy—specifically strategies and techniques for decoding, as well as fostering the critical thinking skills needed to comprehend more advanced texts. Finally students are learning how to organize their thoughts and communicate their understanding through writing. These efforts are making a meaningful difference in how our students approach and excel in reading.

Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting your child’s learning. Your engagement at home plays a vital role in their success, and I’m grateful for all you do to make our community strong.

As Winter Break approaches, I hope you enjoy a season of joy, rest, and quality time with loved ones. Let’s carry this momentum into 2025 as we continue to grow and thrive together at Eagle Crest!

Warmly,

Amanda

Amanda Holden

Principal

Eagle Crest Elementary School

holden_amanda@svvsd.org

Hello Eagle Crest Families!

I hope you have a Winter Break that is happy, safe, and healthy! As we reflect on the start of this school year, we want to express our gratitude for the many ways you’ve supported us and your students in their learning and growth—it truly makes a difference across our school community. 💜💛

Today, students will be bringing home their iPads to support their participation in the Winter Break Reading Challenge and to ensure they are prepared in case of inclement weather when we return in January. If you're searching for ways to encourage your children to continue reading and learning during the break, SVVSD offers a lot of great learning apps on student iPads.

Firstly, there's Sora, our digital library boasting almost 37,000 ebooks, audiobooks, and now magazines. Students can easily check out books from this extensive catalog, much like they would from a regular library.

The second option is myON, a digital on-demand catalog featuring over 7,000 books spanning various levels and interests. Every book in myON can be read aloud, and here's an exciting incentive: the top myON readers at Eagle Crest will earn a prize in the district-wide reading challenge! Access to both of these programs is available through ClassLink.

Moreover, there are numerous opportunities for additional learning, creating, and coding available to students on their iPads. Our STEM Teacher, Katy Schwirtz, has created a helpful guide detailing some great apps and how they can be used.

We're eagerly looking forward to welcoming everyone back to school in 2025!

Wishing you all the best,

Lindsey Cheney

Dean of Students

Eagle Crest Elementary

cheney_lindsey@svvsd.org

December 20th-January 6th - Winter Break, No School

January 7th - Students Return to School

January 10th - Volunteer Training, 9:00am–9:30 am (In-Person)

January 10th - Volunteer Training, 10:30am–11:00am (Virtual)

January 13th - Volunteer Training, 6:00pm–6:30pm (Virtual)

January 20th-MLK Jr. Day, NO SCHOOL

Family volunteers are part of the rich tradition in our community focused school, and we are eager to welcome everyone in to support student learning at Eagle Crest!

In the new year, we will be offering some more volunteer trainings. This training will be required for adults who would like to volunteer in our classrooms or chaperone on field trips. While it is only necessary to complete the training once during your child’s time at Eagle Crest, we always welcome previous volunteers who would like a refresh! It will be an opportunity for us to review safety protocols, confidentiality expectations, and some of the routines and procedures in place to help everything run smoothly.

These trainings will be offered at a variety of days and times.

• January 10th - Volunteer Training, 9:00am–9:30 am (In-Person)
• January 10th - Volunteer Training, 10:30am–11:00am (Virtual)
• January 13th - Volunteer Training, 6:00pm–6:30pm (Virtual)

We look forward to having you as a volunteer at Eagle Crest!

Mrs. Beckett wants students to read, read, read over Winter Break. We are 80% of our way to our reading goal and need to read 46,000 minutes to reach our goal. We can do it! Set aside some time over break to read as a family, read in your pajamas or listen to an audio book together.

Here are this week's free book winners:

Preschoolers - Alexa in Torres and Skylar in Woolaway

Kindergarteners - Briar in Grallert, Leilani in McDaniels and Max in McCarthy

1st graders - Daniel M in Phillips, Emma in Redmond and Javier in Yost

2nd graders - Elliot in Bauer, Angie in Rickel and Braydon in Zamora

3rd graders - Cadence in Doyle, Willow in Drennen and Ty in Sudbeck

4th graders - Tony in Fink and Finn in Reid

5th graders - Lauren in Butterfield, Rylee in Gaccetta and Savannah in McEvoy

Thank you for supporting reading at home. Help your child log their reading minutes at the end of Winter Break. They might be a Free Book Winner in 2025!

Our dedicated 100 Mile Club members have been running consistently and making incredible progress! Collectively, they have already logged an impressive 1,784.25 miles. Many of our students are well on their way to reaching their goal of running 100 miles this year!

🎨🖌️ 3rd-5th Grade: Sign-Up for Art Club🖌️🎨

Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, St. Vrain Valley Schools will offer five-day-a-week preschool programs. Families can explore a variety of high-quality preschool options tailored to meet families’ unique needs, including half-day morning and afternoon sessions, with full-day programs available at select locations. Registration for the upcoming school year begins on December 17.

Visit svvsd.org/preschool for more details and registration information.

While lunch charges no longer apply, we kindly urge all families to complete the Free & Reduced Fees Application. This not only benefits your family with reduced fees for things like iPad Insurance, but also supports our school in terms of funding and staffing. Remember to renew this application annually for access to various benefits.

Apply for free & reduced fees today to take advantage of these opportunities!

If you require assistance or prefer a paper application, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

You can now find the monthly Lunch Menu at LINQCONNECT. This online system allows you to filter for allergens and see the Breakfast Menu. You change between Breakfast and Lunch in the upper left hand corner.

All students can receive complimentary breakfast and lunch at school, with the only additional cost being for seconds. Families can contribute funds to their child’s account by sending cash/check or making a digital payment via RevTrak.

Eagle Crest's specials follow a three-day rotation: RED, YELLOW, PURPLE. The calendar below helps your family plan and ensure the right shoes are ready for PE activities. Reach out to your child's classroom teacher to find out their classroom's specific color rotation.

Parents and guardians who would like information to assist you with particular parenting conversations or additional support of your child, please contact our school counselor, Angie Kerbel. kerbel_angela@svvsd.org

Email: holden_amanda@svvsd.org
Website: eces.svvsd.org
Location: 4444 Clover Basin Drive, Longmont, CO, USA
Phone: 303-485-6073
Facebook: facebook.com/EagleCrestES
Twitter: @EagleCrestES

Instagram: @eaglecrestes

Have questions about anything covered in this newsletter? Reach out via email to holden_amanda@svvsd.org or cheney_lindsey@svvsd.org.

Need support in Spanish?

Contact Natalie Boggess at: boggess_natalie@svvsd.org , 303-702-7872